Step one: transaction visibility
The product needs access to authorized transaction data so it can identify spending and calculate roundup amounts. In Hasanah's case, that relies on connected accounts and third-party providers like Plaid.
How round-up donation apps work
The easiest way to understand a round-up donation app is to think in layers: transaction access, roundup calculation, cycle aggregation, payment processing, and nonprofit routing.
Step two: donation collection
The app then aggregates those roundups over a recurring period and initiates a payment from the user's funding account. Hasanah describes a weekly ACH debit from a linked U.S. checking account.
Step three: campaign and receipt workflows
Once the donation amount is processed, the product routes money through its charitable structure. Recipient nonprofits handle charitable acknowledgments and tax receipts where applicable.
More questions
Are round-up donation apps the same as spare-change savings apps?
No. The math is similar, but the destination is different. Savings apps move spare change into your own account, while a donation app routes it to charitable causes.
Why do these apps need permission to read transactions?
They need transaction data to know what to round up and what to exclude.
Does every donation app use weekly timing?
No. Timing varies by product. Hasanah uses a recurring seven-day cycle.